fritts



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. E. FRITTS.

PRODUCTION, TRANSMISSION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC OURRENTS.

,No. 883,520. Patented May 29, 1888.

[72% 712273 I dd; 5%,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

0. E. FRITTS.

PRODUCTION, TRANSMISSION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF ELEGTRIG GUBRENTS,

Patented May 29, 1888.

fi-I %@fl 7 CHARLES EDGAR FRITTS, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

PRODUCTION, TRANSMiSSlON, AND DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC CURRENTS.

Application filed October I, 1885. Serial No. 179,271.

331' forming part. of Letters Patent NO. 383,520, dated May 29,

(No model.)

To all Lt-71 0112, lmty concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES EDGAR FnITTs, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in the Production,Transmission, and Distribution of Electricity, of which the fol lowingis a specification.

Heretol'ore currentshave been produced by any suitable generator ofelectrical currents as a battery or a machineand transmitted overcontinuous conductors to the place of use and then returned to thegenerator over the continuous conductor or sent to earth; but in allcases, it the conductingcircuit is opened or broken, all the apparatusupon it become inoperative, as no current flows unless the circuit iscompleted. In my system, if the circuit is accidentally broken, only theapparatus near the break are disabled, all the others on the circuitcontinuing to operate, and even the former are not entirely useless.Another advantage is that an open circuit does not disable thegenerator, (if a dynamo-electric machine,) as is usually the case.

My invention also has for its object economy in the cost of producinganddistributing electricity by repeated inductions, instead of send ing thecurrents bodily over the entire length ot'the circuit, to renderconsumers independent of the original generator as regards the characterof the current they use by giving them the power to take oil a currentof any potential or strength they require, within the ca pacity of thegenerator, without interfering with other consumers.

My invention consists in producing, by any suitable or known means, avarying current, whether alternating, undulating, or interrupted,therewith charging an electrical coudenser to its own potential, and bythe varying charge ofsaid condenser inducing currents upon and over theone or more sections of the line or circuit, each of which isinductively united to the adjacent section by a condenser in likemanner, and the last one to the other pole of the generator, repeatingthis operation fast enough to keep the electrical impulses constantlyflowing over the line.

It also consists in so combining the beforementioned sectional circuitwith the generator that, even if the circuit is broken, the generatorwill or can furnish substantially the same current as before; that thecurrent furnished shall be in proportion to the aryingdemand; that evenwhen the circuit is broken in every section the generator does not breakdown; that there is not necessarily any complete circuit, in the generalacceptation of the term closed circuit, either in the generator oroutside of it; that the generator is neverthe less capable, if desired,of sending out either varying or constant currents, or both, overcontinuous circuits, either in place of the preceding arrangements orsimultaneously therer a with; that electrical energy may e utilized inevery section practically independent of the others as regards thecharacter of the current used, and in other =improvcments, as fullyhereinafter described.

Although I have improved forms of the various devices used, theinvention does not depend upon them, but it is capable of satisfac toryoperation with such as are already known or in use, and I therefore donot herein de scribe them.

I do not claim the method employed in this application, reserving thesame for another case, as I have, in a separate application datedJanuary 5, 1887, prayed that Letters Patent be granted to me for thatportion of my in vention.

As the invention claimed in this case simply my new arrangement andorganiza ion or" elements, already well known and understood byelectricians and those versed in the art, I do not give detaileddescriptions or drawings of their construction further than may beneeded for a full comprehension of my arrange ment and use of the same.

As the simplest type of my system I will explain Figure 1 as follows:

The generator is for "he moment supposed to be a dynamo-electric machinegiving an alternating current.

M M are the field-magnets; A, the armature with two brushes leading thecurrent to the poles P P of the machine.

The pole-pieces and other minor parts are omitted for the sake ofclearness in the draw ings, not being necessary to the explanation.

To the poles are attached conductors lead its own potential.

.5 substantially equal to that of K.

0 end of the circuit.

ing to the nearest armatures of the condensers K and K respectively. Tothe other armatures of the condensers are connected two circuits. One isthe working or external circuit 5 divided, we will say, into foursections by the condensers K K K", as shown, the adjacent terminals ofeach section being electrically connected to the respective armatures ofthe condenser between them. The other is the field- I o magnet circuitand extends between Kand K as before, passing through an apparatus, St,for straightening alternating currents, the ad justed or straightenedcurrents proceeding from binding-postp through the field-magnet I5 coilsM M of the generator, then back to postfi, and thence through St to thecondenser K hen the generator starts running, the residual magnetism inthe field-magnets gives rise to a slight electro-motive force in thearma- 2o ture, which charges the two condensers K K,

and they send a like impulse through the fieldmagnet coils. By theprocess of cumulative effects or action and reaction between thefield-magnets and armature, well understood,

the current gradually becomes stronger until it reaches its normal orworking strength; but this resultwill be reached more quickly if thepoles P P are connected directly to St, as indicated by the dotted linesto 11 1)", until the field-magnets are fully energized and the generatorworking properly. Then condensers K K are connected, as shown by thefull lines, and a practically continuous straight current flows throughthe field-magnet coils M M, while an alternating current flows throughthe working-circuit. This is accomplished as follows: Let us start witha positive impulse from the armature to pole P. It charges the innerhalf of condenser K positively to The outer half of K is thereby chargednegatively by induction to an equal potential, and a positive impulse issent over the first section of the circuitand. charges the nearest halfof K positively to a potential By a similar induction in K an impulse issent from K over the nextsection of the circuit to K and in like mannerover the section between K and K, and that between K and K at the otherAs the positive inductive action from the end at K is re-enforced by thenegative inductive action from the other end at K, the loss of potentialat the intervening condensers is very slight unless the circuit is verylong and of high resistance or divided into a very large number ofsections; but even then the loss is only in the middle sections, and isthat due to half the length of the circuit, growing less toward eitherend. The

next positive impulse is from pole P, which 6 several sections of thecircuit as many distinct currents, each consisting of impulses inalternately opposite directions, substantially like that which would besent over a continuous circuit between P and P and it acts in a likemanner upon any apparatus which may be inserted in any of the sectionsof this circuit.

In arranging this system the condensers must be of sufficient capacityto receive and yield impulses of the required strength or volume, andtheinsulation capable of bearing the potential of the initial generatorwithout injury. They areto be charged and discharged (the terminal onesby the generator) with sufticient rapidity to keep electrical impulsespassing over the sections as an ordinary alternating current would doover an ordinary line, and so that if the impulses are 'rectified 2 6.,the current straightened or adj usteda practicallycontinuous currentwill be obtained. For very rapid reversals condensers withair-insulation are preferable, as they discharge quickly, all of whichwill be well understood by those versed in the art and easily carriedout and practiced without further explanations.

I hold that the currents passing over the line-sections consist of theneutral electricity residing in the sections and apparatus, (andtheearth-connections,when anyexist,) and that it is decomposed andseparated by theinduetive action ofthe condensers,which drives thepositive and negative portions over the sections in obedience to itsvarying status, and that the energy required for this action is verylittle. Consequently there is only a small amount of energy expendedbeyond that transformed into useful work in the electrical receivers inthe various circuits, and the system is highly economical, in additiontoits other advantages pointed out herein.

Fig. l'shows the field-n'iagncts in shunt with the external circuit, sothat the greater the resistance or the counter electro-motive force inthe latter the more current goes to the fieldmagnet circuit, and viceversa, thus regulating the yield of current to the demand therefor,precisely analogous to the action of the like arrangement withcontinuous circuits. Instead of this the field-magnet coils may bearranged in series with the external circuit, as shown in Fig. 2, orthey may be arranged after any of the systems of compound winding, orothers, in connection with the armature, as may be deemed best for hispurposes by the electrician or operator. Fig. 3 shows them in acontinuous circuit between the poles, equivalent to the arrangement inFig. 1, including the dotted lines, when the magnetic field will bestronger, other things being equal, than if the connections I 1) and P1)are omitted.

In place of the arrangements which include the current-straightener St,a dynamo with two commutators or collectors may be employed, from one ofwhich the brushes take a straight or adjusted current, and from theother an alternating one. This construction may be conveniently shown byrepresenting the two collectors as being at the opposite ends ofarmature A, (although they need not be so in practice) as shown in Fig.l, where P P are thepolcs for the alternating current, and P 13 thosefor-the straight current. This may be accomplished either by devotingseparate coils of the armature for each purpose, by having twoarmatures, or otherwise.

Fig. 4 shows the lieldanagnet coils in series with the externalstraight-current circuit; but they may be in shunt with it, as in Fig.5, or may be separately excited, as in Fig. 6 or in Fig. 7. which latterrepresents two machines,both armatu res being on the same shaft and bothmagnets energized by one of them, while the other furnishes thealternating cur rent for the external circuit. The excitingarmaturc hasalso a second com mntator at its other end, from which alternalingcurrents may be sent by poles P l? to either sectional or continuouscircuits, to relieve the overtension of the machine when in full action.As the coils of the mature and the field-magnets would otherwise be inclosed circuit, the intensity of the magnetic licld would soon becomeenormous, from the absence of any external resistance and no waste ofcurrent, all being used in exciting magnetism by constant action andreaction. Consetpicntly, with the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, a veryfew coils of the armature would suliice to keep up the magnetic field.

Ot' conrseconl muons-current machines may be employed and an apparatusused to change the straight into alternating currents for thecondensers---such, for example, as that described by l rowbridgc andHayes in Sillimans Journal for May, lSStF-Or any other suitable for thepurpose.

Instead of altcrnat ing currents, interrupted currents may no used in mysystemprodueed in any suitable or well-known way.

Fig. 8 may prescnt a revolving circuit breaker, ll, s surface is equallydivided betwcc condi hing and non comlueting spaces, (the latter beindrawn black, indicating that they are not connected to the gen erator,but grounded or otherwise arranged for dischargin bearing thereon,having their ends one space apart. spaces on the left are connected tothe positive generator-pole, those on the right with the negative pole.l? revolves, the current is sent first into one dcnsers, then into theother. This is not in tended as aworking drawing, but to show that thecondensers are to be alternately charged with electrical impulses, oneset being discoir nccted from the generator and discharging while theother is connected and charging, and each line is occupied byintermittent inr The pulses. Any suitable circuit-breaker may be used,and with a si divided circuit 111' stead of two, if desired. Uudnlatingcurrents may also be sent and utilized in a lillc manner as alternatingones, with this execution, that the condense s will only send a currentcorresponding to the difference between the greatg,:) with two pairs ofbrushes set of conest and least strengths,or to the amount of thevariations in the initial currents.

My system is not adapted for sending continuous or straight currents, asthe condensers only act by change of charge, whereby induetion isproduced to that extent; but a continu one current may be sent in anindirect way, either by first converting it into an alternating current,sending it as such to the place of use and there reconyerting it to astraight current, or by first dividing it into two equal interruptedoncs, transmitting each over a separate line, and by any well-knownmeans causing both to pass through the utilizing-apparatus, the impulsesof one filling in the intermissions in the other, and by their reunionforming a solid current, as illustrated at V in Fig. 8, which thussupplies alocal circuit with a solid current.

I do not claim herein that division or part of my system which consistsin starting with continuous or straight currents and convert ingthcminto interrupted, undulating, or alternating currents tor transmissionin the manner described, as I have another pending application therefor,together with many details of the construction and arrangement of thelines and apparatus in mysystcm, filed October 18, 1886, and I shallclaim all such matter therein.

My object in showing the foregoing different arrangements is toillustrate that my system is not limited to any particular kind or classof electrical 'enerators, but may be used with any, and to explain howit may be done. It will therefore no longer be necessary to show thecomplete arrangements of the generators, but in subsequent drawings onlythe c mmutato and brushes will be given, it being understood that thetield magnet coils may be wound and connected up according to anywellhuowu or suitable system preferred, or that any other generator maybe connected to the poles shown in the drawings; also, that regulatingdevices may be used in either the external or the held-magnet circuit,as usual,

and that taking oft currents of whatever character om thehigh-resistance closingcircuit between the poles of the generator anylesircd potential may be given to them by j the connections nearer tothe poles or the middle or point of zero-potential, as a iighor n r alower potential is required. This closing-circuit is shown more fully inFig. at, where it is represented as divided into scclions withartificial resistances R between them, so that connections can be madeat any desired points by plugs or otherwise, all of which is wellunderstood by electricians.

it will now be seen that while on an ordinary r continuous line thepoint of zero-p0- tential is in the center (of resistance) of the entireline, in my system it is in the center of each section, and the pointsof highest and. lowest potential at the ends of the line are re pcatcdat the end of each section, so that the consumer may have virtually anentire line in ir on his own premises, with the corresponding power totake off currents of such volume and electro-motive force as he mayrequire. If he connects the terminals of his industrial apparatus to thecondensers at each end of his section, he gets substantially the samedifference of potential as if he connected at the generator itself, andit 110 uses but one conductor between the condensers he gets the entirevolume of current passing over the circuit. On the other hand, if hedivides the current between two or four conductors containing equalresistances, as between K and K", Fig. 10, each will receive one-half oronefourth as many ampcros as the one would, and by proper adjustment ofresistances he can control the difference of potential at the terminalsof his apparatus. This can be done in different ways. He may insert hiselectrical receiver in the single wire of a section and get a differenceof potential corresponding to its resistance, as shown between K and Kin Fig. 9. If his receiver El has one-fourth the resistance of theentire section it will have between its terminals onefourth thedifference of potential between the condensers. Between K and K aconductor (preferably of high resistance) is shown, having variouselectrical receivers connected in shunts at different points, andreceiving currents whose difference of potential will de pend on therespective resistances of the various apparatus and conductors, as willbe readily understood. K and K are connected by two branch conductors,which in their turn are connected by cross conductors,whose ends areattached at points of different potential, so that a current flows fromthe point of higher to that of lower potential through the crossconnecting conductors, in which may be inserted any desired electricalreceivers. If the branch conductors have uniform resistances, and areconnected at uniform distances from their ends, as shown, I obtain aconstant difference of potential between the terminals of thecross-conductors, which is uniform throughout the section. If the entireline is similarly arranged, I thus obtain a constant and uniformdifference of potential at allpoints in the line, regardless of how nearto or far from the generator the cross-con ductors may be located. If hewishes to get more or less difference of potential than could beobtained as described with or without a change in the quantity or volumeof the current for use in a local circuit,he may use some form ofinduction coils for that purpose, as the transformers of Gaulard andGibbs or those of Zipernowski and Dri, as represented by Tr in Fig. 10,where a local circuit is shown containing electrical receivers fed bythe transformed current El and Z. The electrical receivcrs may beelectric lamps, motors, or any other electrical' apparatus. If the linebreaks the ends may be grounded until repairs are made, as in Fig. 11,whereby the apparatus between the next condenser and the earth can stillbe used, although the difference of potential is only one-half as greatas before the breakage.

Of course a number of circuits may be run between two condensers, asshown in Fig. 12, each receiving a current of the same potential, andthe strength (or aniperes) in inverse pro portion tothe respectiveresistances. So, also, any number of independent condensers may becharged at the same poles,either connected directly to the poles andcharged to a like potential or charged to any different potentialsrequired, as explained for Fig. 4. The number of sections in a circuitor the length of them may be largely a matter of choice.

The advantage of having an entire section under control is the greatdifference of potential available; but as there is a slight loss by eachinduction the number of condensers should not be excessive. If thepotential of the initial current from the generator is very high, it maybe beneficial to connect the ends or the middle of each section, or ofone or more of them, to earth through a suitable re sistance, as shownin Fig. 10. This resistance may, of course, be composed of any suitableelectrical receivers for utilizing the current flowing through thegrounded circuit. The resistance B should be sufficient to prevent thiscircuit from interfering with the charging of the condensers on the lineproper, as K and K If it should be desirable to have two conductorsalongside, whose currents flow in opposite directions, Fig. 13 shows howthey may be arranged and connectedto the generatorpoles. \Vhenindependence of the currents is not required, a single condenser at eachpole will answer for both circuits.

My invention is also applicable with the three-wire or multiple wiresystems of conductors, as shown by Figs. 14: and 15. cssary, in order toinsure that the two (or more) machines shall produce currents whosealternations (or interruptions) shall be exactly synchronous, straightcurrents maybe used and led to suitable apparatus for changing them toalternating (or interrupted) currents, as already explained, and all thecurrents should be manipulated by the same shaft or vibrator of theapparatus, although the our rent from each generator may be keptisolated from the others and led to its own line. Fig. 16 illustratesthis arrangement, where WV is the apparatus adapted to manipulate thetwo currents, as described. Each current enters the apparatus straightand emerges alternating. On its return to TV, at the other end of theexternal circuit, it is straightened again by its passage through W, andreturns so to the other pole of the generator, thus completing itscircuit.

For the system in Fig. 15 the apparatus should be adapted formanipulating three currents.

The arrangements drawn in Figs. 14,15,

If necand 16 serve to show that two lines returning to the generatorsmay have their return-halves united into one, as thcredrawn, thecondenser capacity of the combined portion being of course large enoughfor both lines. 'Whenever desired, however, the two return lines may bekept entirely separate, as would ordinarily be arranged. For instance,in Figs. let and 16 the interior or united part would then be replacedbytwo, thus makingtwo complete lines, orfourhalves, instead ofthree,asshown. In Fig. 15 there would then be six halves instead of four, asshown.

If two widely separated generators are caused to produce currentsexactly coinciding in their alternations, (or interruptions,) as may bedone by well-known means, they can be arranged at the two ends of thecircuit or circuits, and the distant end of a circuit, instead ofreturning to the other pole of the same generator, will then return tothe opposite pole of the twin generator, as shown in Fig. 17. Thecomplete circuit would then include two generators instead of the oneshown in Figs. 1 and 11. The principle is the same as it' the twomachines were together, connected up in series, for the higherelcctro-motive force, economy, d e. in like manner we may connecttogether any number of machines neces sary to produce the desiredstrength of currentor inductive action, either as onemachine orapparatus or at different places in the circuit.

I will now state the general electrical laws involved in the operationof my invention or system in conventional technical terms in formulasconvenient for usein working; but,first, I would observe that althoughthere is a slight loss in the action of condensers, as before stated, itis not so large as is commonly supposed. In fact, with a properly-madecondenser momentarily charged, as is done in my system, theloss is tooinconsiderable to be discovered by ordinary measuring apparatus andshould not in practice exceed one, per cent. for each condenser.

The capacity of a condenser is expressed in farads and designated by theletter F. )Vhen a number of similar condensers are connected in series,as in my system, their working capacity is reduced inproportion tothenumber so connected. If ten LF. condensers are con nected in series,as shown in the drawings, with the distant end of the line connected toearth, as in Fig. 11, the working or series ca pacity L-F. of eachcondenser will be one-tenth l'arad; but that does not imply any waste ofenergy in working. it merely limits the amount of electrical energy thatcan be trans mitted by the given size of condensers. Although separatelythey have a capacity of l-F. when so connected, they act as one-tenthfarad condensers, and that capacity indicates the amount of electricalenergy received and given out by them with the loss of one per cent. orless, as before stated. When both ends of the series are connected tothe opposite poles of the individual condensers when alone by the numberN in the series. Thus:

LFZF. (1.) I?

The charge or quantity of electricity which a single condenser cancontain is expressed in coulombs, (conl.,) and is found by multiplyingthe capacity F. by the difference of potential (D. of P.) between itsopposite plates or sides: 00111. FXD. of P. of condenser; but whenconnected in series each one takes the same charge as the polarcondenser receives from the generator, and the formula for each is then:Coul. L-F X D. of P. of condensers. (2f

Ifsuflicient time is allowed for charging, the D. of P. of thecondensers will be equal to E, the D. of P. between the generatorpolesi. c.,when both ends of the line are connected to thegeneratonpoles,which is the bipolar or normal arrangement, D. of P. or"condensers: D. of P. at generator, (3;) but when one end of the seriesis connected to one pole, and the other end and other pole are connectedto earth, which I call the unipolar arrangement, the D. of P. of thecondensers is double that at the generator, because it is the sum of +Eand E, and the formulais unipolar D. ofP. ofcondensers 2 D. ofP.ofgenerator.

I transmit currents of as high clectroinotive force as possible toutilize in the electrical receivers in the line, because high D. of P.increases the charge which agiven sizeolcondensers will contain, andtherefore increases the work which a small condenser can do. It alsocauses the current to have a higher D. of P. and greater power toovercome resistance, or allows a greatervolumc of current through agiven resistance.

The D. of P. of the current llowing between the condensers in a line onmy system will be that of the condensersi. 6., in an alternatingcurrent, the D. of P. (between the extreme positive and negative pointsof the current) will be equal to the D. of P. between thecondenser-plates, and with an undulating interrupted or other likecharging-current at the polar condensers the D. of P. of theline-current will be equal to the variations in the potentials of thecharges of the condensers; but the D. of P. of an alternating current asmeasured by the usual voltmcterssuch as Gardewsdoes not indicate the D.of P. between the and extremes of the alternating impulses, but theexpenditure of electrical energy by the current, and therefore givesapproximately the average D. of P. of the current. It may ordi- ISOnarily be considered that the D. of P. of current as measured 1; D. ofP. at condensers.

The volume of current which flows in a continuous circuit is expressedin amperes A, and is found by dividing the electro-motive force of thecurrent by the resistance B, through which it flows; but in the case ofalternating currents this rule may or may not apply, because they arenot continuous and constant in either volume or electro'motive force.What their real average strength is may be different with differentcurrents of the same type. The actual character, strength, andproperties of such currents are as yet not fully understood, and manypoints about them are still involved in uncertainty. Sufficientexactness for a working rule will be obtained by taking onehalf D.-of P.at the condensers as the average D. of P. or the current, correspondingto an equal elcctro-motive force in a continuous current, and the volumeof current which will flow through the line sections will beapproximately obtained by the formula- 5 D. olP. at condenser (6 It. ofthe section.

\Vhen the current is actually flowing, and its D. of P. can be measured,as above, the volume of the current may be adjusted by the formulaFormula 6 will give the approximate strength of the alternatingline'eurrent; but when it is important to know precisely the volume ofany particular current which flows or can tlow over a given line, it caneasily be determined by slowly increasing the resistance in one of thesections. If the measured D. of P. of the current begins to drop, itshows that the rate of flow or current, A, is being cut down, and thecondensers do not become fully charged up to the proper D. of P. in thetime allowed for charging, for it is obvious that if the dischargebegins before the condensers are fully charged the D. of P. of thecondensers will'be correspondingly lower, and the D. of P. of thecurrent will also be lowered. On the other hand, if the measured D. ofP. of the current is increased by lowering the R, it shows that theresistance was too high, and that the average volume of the current isreally greater than the mean value assumed in the formulas. Thus thecalculated factors of a line may be readily tested and corrected to suitthe peculiarities of any given current by simply increasing the normalR. of a section till the standard measured D. of P. of the currentbegins to,drop, or vice versa, and the difference between the calculatedand the allowable resistances shows thedeviation of the current from thenormal type of such currents,

D as given in formulas 5 and 7.

It is obvious that the resistance in the several condensers should beapproximately the same for this reason. All the condensers charge upsimultaneously and atthe same rate, and the same current flows over eachsection, connecting the condensers to each other and to earth. An excessof resistance in any one section would lessen the rate of flow in thatsection and delay the charging of its condensers, and consequently ofall the condensers in the line. The line-current A is therefore limitedto D of P. the highest R. in any one section. The line should evidentlybe arranged so that the resistances in the several sections will beapproximately the same (or, at least, notabove the standard R.ofasection) at any particular time, although they may be very differentat different times to suit the requirements of the service.

As the current is, in my system, produced by variations of charge in thecondensers, each impulse can continue only so long as the charge storedin the condenser can supply the requisite electricity by discharge. Thecharge must then be repeated. The frequency of these charges should besuch as to keep the impulses constantly flowing over the line in onedirec tion or the other. This speed of reversing or varying the chargesshould be so adjusted that the condensers can be charged up to therequired D. of P. in the time between the reversals or variations, andso that at the instant when they become so charged they will be causedto begin to discharge. To ascertain the speed required with a given lineor series of condensers, I need only find how long the charge stored upin the condensers will sustain the current which will llow in any givencase.

A coulomb of electricity will keep up a current of one ampere for onesecond, orasmaller current for a longer time or a larger current for ashorter time. The volume of current which will fiow through a conductorconnecting two condensers, as shown in the drawings, does not depend onthe amount of the charge in the condensers, but is governed by the ratioof the D. of P. of the current to the resistance of the sections, asgiven in formulas 6 and 7. 7e may therefore have any current we wish bysuiting the It. to the D. of P., to allow that current, A, to flow inthe sections. Then the time, T, in seconds, during which the chargeCoul. will furnish this current A is found by dividing the charge by therate of flow, thus:

Goul. 8. T

This time/l, indicates how often the charge must be repeated-21 0., thespeed of reversals in an alternating current, or of the breaks in aninterrupted current, or of the variationsin an undulatingcharging-current; or with current-varying apparatus for charging havinga given speed and a current of a given volume and D. of P. required onthe line we can calculate the line or series capacity, L 11, necessaryto hold the requisite quantity of electric IIO ity for supplying thatcurrent by the formula rpm 1). 0t .r. or condensers.

And each condenser in the line should have the absolute or individualcupacity- 10. i). ot P. ot condensers.

In arranging a system, therefore, I proceed as follows: if I want aone-ampere current and one thousand volts D. of 1 as measured, 1 shallrequire (as a general rule) onetheusand ohms resistance in the sections,or in the one having the highest resistance. So, in any other case, 1suit the it. to the D. of I. in formulati or 7 to get the current Iwant. A l-F. condenser charged to one thousand volts D. of P. (formula3) contains no thousand coulombs,which will supply a one ampere current(through live hundred ohms, formula 6) for one thousand seconds,(formula 8.) Instead ofthat, it would supply one thousand amperes forone scconthfihy amperes for twenty seconds, one hundred thousandainperes for one one-humlredth second, or any desired modificationoi'these qua tities, providedthat D. of P.+R. (formulas 6 and 7) is in eachcase so adjusted as to permit the desired current to flow through theconductor.

In order to keep the impulses continuously flowing over the line in onedirection or the other, I re; the charges as rapidly as they aredischarged in each case. For instance, if I want an alternating currentof one ampere,aud my condensers areso small thatthey will keep up oneamnere of current for only one two hundredaml-iittictlis second, 1'.reverse the charging-current two hundred and titty times per second, andthe successive discharges then supply a continuous alternating currenton the line.

It is commonly supposed that in order to get a current 0 impulse of anyconsiderable volume a fit)l1tlt:i8i of enormous size is required. The tsuch is not the A. cmnlenser ot' the size commonly used i.. tcleg nphy,or or" only tour microl'arads purity, charged to two iilOllsand volts1). ol' .1 contains one onehundredand-twenty liithsco lomo, which willsupply a two-ampere current tor one two-hundred and-fit'tiethssecond."thus, with a charginggenerator reversing two hundred and titty times asecond, this ti y condens r 'ill keep a two ampere alte. ailing currenttlewiug through live hundred ohms resistance and transmit over two andtwo-thi *ds horse-power in electrical energy; or a l-F. condenser, 'iththe same s'i-eed ol" reversals, thesame D. of R, and having onehrehumlredthts ohm resistance in the conductors, will keep analternating current or" live hundred tl'iousand ampercs and one thousandvolts [lowing 'it-h electrical energy, equivalent to {70,211 horsepower,minus one per cent. or less for loss in the condenser. The volume ofcurent lowing in the sections being governed by the ratio the line, but

of R. to D. of P. in formulas 6 and '7, any desired volume of currentmay be obtained by so varying the It. as to cause that our rent to dew,and if the generators are selfregulating, as hereinhefore explained,they will supply the current required. lhe method of regulating andgoverning dynamo-electric generators to get constant potential andvarying current, constant current and varying potential, or current andpotential both constant, either by electrical or mechanicalarrangements, is now so well understood by all electricians that it willnot be necessary to explain those points any further than has already 1.en done, only to say that the capacity of the condensers should hesufficient for the greatest volume of current they will at any time herequired to furnish.

Telegraphic and telephonic lines have been proposed consisting ofsections connected together by condensers; but such a line is conheeledto one pole only of the generator and is intended to actuate apparatusat the other end and to deliver to the utilizing apparatus an exactreproduction of the initial current,

whereas mine is adapted to actuate apparatus in every section of theline, givingiu each one a current which may be quite unlike that in anyother section or that which the generator prod need; and the far end ofthe line returns to the other pole of the generator and is connectedthereto, so that both poles exert aninductive action over the wholeline,each assisting the other, and both poles being virtually repeated at theends of each section. Moreover, my receiving apparatus are not connectedto earth, but are in the line and without the earth connections employedby others.

My invention is not the transmission of identical or unchargedsingle-signaling i1n pulses or c irrents over a line having one endconnected to the current generating and varying apparatus, forutilization exclusively in receiving apparatus in the terminal sectionsof the transmission over a line having one or both ends connected to thecharg ing apparatus and adapted for insulated electrical receivers inevery section of an amount of electrical :nergy in current whosecharacter may he indefinitely varied at many points between he poles ofthe generator, as may be required by the electrical receivers there forpurposes ct utilization.

rrnothcr peculiarity of my system is that there is little or no tendencyof my currents to escape from the line to earth, as in all pre vioussystems, because these currents, being produced by inductive attractionsfrom both ends of the line, are more strongly drawn there than to theearth, and there is a greater dill'erence of potential between any pointin the circuit and its ends than between that point and the earth. Stillanother peculiarity These two facts Ils largely remove the danger toattendants arising with any other kind of apparatus statieally chargedto a high potential. Even if the body of the attendant became anearthconnection, as It. at K in Fig. 10, the currents would have onlyone-half the potential and about one-tl1ird of the strength of thenormal currents over the line. If he touched the line at its center ofresistance, as R. between K and K, he would receive no current or shockat all; hence by my system lines with very moderate insulation may carrycurrents of very high potential without loss, and much higher, withsafety to attendants, than by any other system.

A further advantage of my system is that by the duplicating or repeatingot' the inductions over sections ot'line the resistance of a long linein numerous sections may be no greater than that of an ordinarylinehaving only thelength of one of my sections for conveying the sameamount of energy, and I can use a conductor that is very much smallerand less expensive.

although my line is many times the longer. This fact will be evident onconsideration of the laws governing the indactions of condensers; butthe crowning peculiarity of my system is the method ofand economy in thetransmission of power. Supposing that we havea sectional line arranged,for example, as in Fig. 1, and

. a certain amount of energy is expended in charging the polar side ofthe terminal eondensersay Kthat energy will be expended inputtingKinalikccondition. Theenergyin K is then expended in putting K in likecondition, and so on to the end, currents being sent over the conductorsconnecting the several condensers, whose potential depends on thepotential of the terminal condensers and their quantity or strength uponthe capacities of the condensers in the line and the resistances of theconductors connecting them. A difi'er ence of potential beingestablished between the two ends of the section-conductor, a currentfiows through it precisely as it the same difference were brought aboutby direct connection to the poles of the generator, excepting only thatit is limited by the capacity of the con densers at its ends. Thiscurrent may be utilized in overcoming resistances or doing work on thesection like all other currentsthat is to say, the originalamountofenergy expended by the generator is reproduced in the severalsections by the inductions and electrical attractions and repulsions inthe several condensers,and is consequently repeated as many times asthere are sections in the line, minus the small less at the condensers.

I do not confine myselfto the exact arrange ments or details described,for it is evident that they may be widely varied without departing fromthe principles of my invention, as will be readily understood andaccomplished by those versed in the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An organized system for the production,

transmission, and'distribution ofelectric currents, .consistingof thecombination of apparatus for automatically producing a suitablyvaryingcurrent and one or more external or working circuits connecting theopposite poles of the current producing and varying apparatus, saidcircuits being inductively con nected to the poles through electricalcon densers or devices which prevent the actual passage of the initialcurrent from the poles over the lines or circuits, but which transmit acorresponding amount of electrical energy over the circuits by virtue ofinduction through said devices from both of said poles.

2. An organized system for the production and distribution of electricalenergy, consisting in the combination of apparatus for producing asuitably-varying current, and one or more lines or circuits connectingthe opposite poles of the cm'rent-producing apparatus, one or more ofsaid lines being divided into sections by condensers, each sectionhaving sub stantially the same potential at its endsas the undividedline would have had and being substantially a counterpart of saidundivided line.

3. The combination of apparatus for producing a suitably-varying currentand one ormore lines or circuits connected to the opposite p'oles ofsaid apparatus, one or more of said lines being divided into sectionsinductively united by condensers, each such section being adapted forthe utilization of the current passing over it in electrical apparatusinserted in it.

4. The combination of apparatus for producing a suitably-varying currentand one or more lines or circuits connected to the opposite poles ofsaid apparatus, one or more of said lines being divided into sectionsinductively united by condensers, and each of said sections beingpractically independent of the others as regards the character of thecurrent passing over it or through the electrical apparatus inserted init.

5. The combination ofapparatus l'or producing a suitably-varying currentand one or more lines or circuits connecting the opposite poles of saidapparatus, one or more of said lines being divided into sectionsinductively united through condensers, whereby each pole acts byinduction over the whole line to the other pole and each assists andsustains the inductive action of the other. 7

6. The combination, substantially as described, of dynamo-electricapparatus for producing a suitably-varying current, two or more linesconnecting the opposite poles of said apparatus through condensers, anda circuit containing the fieldmagnet coils of said apparatus and meansfor changing the varying to a straight current.

7. The combination, substantially as de scribed, of dynamo-electricapparatus for promore lines connecting the opposite poles of saidapparatus through condensers, and a circuit containing the field-magnetcoils of said apparatus.

8. The combination of apparatus forproducing asuitably-varying current,one or more lines or circuits connected to the opposite poles of saidapparatus, and means in said circuit or circuits, but independent of orseparate from the generating apparatus, for changing said varying to acontinuous or straight current for use therein.

9. The combination of dynamo-electric apparatus for producing asuitably-varying current and a circuit containing its field-magnet coilsin closed circuit with one or more coils of the armature, with one ormore external or working circuits connected to its poles throughcondensers.

10. The combination, substantially as described, of apparatus forproducing a suitablyvarying current, one or more lines connected to theopposite poles of said apparatus through condensers for transmittingsaid current, and electrical receivers actuated by the impulses orcurrents induced by or between said condensers.

11. The combination of apparatus for producing a suitably-varyingcurrent,one or more lines or circuits connected to the poles of saidapparatus through condensers, apparatus in said circuit for changing thecharacter of the current flowing over itand sending it through a localcircuit connected to said apparatus, then on over theline,and anelectrical receiver in said local circuit for utilizing said changedcurrent.

12. The combination, substantially as described, of apparatus forproducing a suitablyvarying current,one or more lines connected to theopposite poles of said apparatus through condensers for transmittingsaid current, means for also producing a straight current, and one ormore lines connected thereto for transmit ting said straight current.

13. The combination, substantially as described, of apparatus forproducing a suitablyvarying current, one or more lines connected to theopposite poles of said apparatus for transmitting said current bodily,one or more lines connected to the poles through condensers fortransmitting said current by induction over them, means for producing astraight current, and one or more lines for transmitting said straightcurrent.

14. The combination, substantially as described, ot' apparatus forproducing a suitably varying current, one or more lines connected to theopposite poles of said apparatus through condensers, and means forgiving any desired potential (within the capacity of the said apparatns)to the current sent over each individual line.

15. The combination, substantially as described, of apparatus forproducing a suitablyvarying current, one or more lines connected to theopposite poles of said apparatus through condensers, and means forsending a current of the same potential over each of said lines.

16. The combination of apparatus for producing a suitably-varyingcurrent, one or more lines connected to the opposite poles of saidapparatus through condensers, means for giving any desired potential tothe current sent over each individual line, one or more lines connectedto the opposite poles of said apparatus for transmitting said varyingcurrent bodily, and means for giving any desired potential to thecurrent sent over each of said lines.

17. The combination of apparatus for prod ucing a suitably-varyingcurrent, one or more lines connected to the opposite poles of saidapparatus through condensers, means for giving any desired potential tothe current sent over each individual line, means for producing acontinuous current, one or more lines for transmitting said current, andmeans for giving any desired potential to the current sent over each ofsaid lines.

18. The combination of apparatus for producing a suitably-varyingcurrent, one or more lines connected to the opposite poles of saidapparatus through condensers, means for giving any desired potential tothe current sent over each individual line, one or more lines 5connected to the opposite poles of said apparatus for transmitting saidvarying current bodily, means for giving any desired potential to thecurrent sent over each of said lines, means for producing a continuouscurrent, one or more lines for transmitting said current, and means forgiving any desired potential to the current sent over each of saidlines.

19. The combination, substantially as set iort-lnofapparatns forproducing a suitably-va- I05 rying current, one or more lines orcircuits connected to the poles ofsaid apparatus and divided intosections inductively connected through condensers, and a conductorconnecting one of said sections to earth through a no suitableresistance.

20. The combination, substantially as described, of apparatus forproducing a suitablyvarying current, one or more lines or circuitsconnected to the poles of said apparatus and consisting of sectionsinductively connected through condensers, and an electrical receiverinserted in one of said sections, whose resistance bears the same ratioto the resistance of said section as the desired difference of poten-[2o tial between its terminals bears to the difference of potentialbetween the ends of said section.

21. The combination, substantially as de scribed, of apparatus forproducing asuitablyr25 varying current, one or more lines or circuitsconnected to the poles of said apparatus and consisting of sectionsinductively connected through condensers, each section being dividedinto as many derived circuits and with such 0 resistances as may benecessary to secure for the electrical receivers in them the properstrength or tension of current.

22. The combination of two or more apparatus for producing asuitably-varying current, with a suitable number of sectional lines,such as described, arranged on the multiplewire system of conductors,substantially as set forth.

23. The combination, substantially as described, of apparatus forproducinga suitablyvarying current, one or more lines or circuitsconnecting the opposite poles through condensers, one of the sections ofsuch wire or line being broken or open, and a conductor connecting thebroken wire to earth.

24. The combination of a line consisting of a conductor whose endsterminate in the contiguous sides or armatures of condensers, generatingapparatus for producing suitably-Va rying electro-motive force, andconnections from the two poles of said apparatus to the opposite sidesor armatures of the said condensers, enabling the generating apparatusto give'them correspondingly-varying electric charges, and therebyinducing currents orimpulses over the conductor connecting theiropposing sides or armatures.

25. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a line consisting ofa suitable conductor, two condensers, each having one of its sides orarmatures connected to the contiguous end of said conductor, generatingapparatus for producing suitably-varying electromotive force, andconnections from the two poles of said apparatus to the other sides orarmatures of' said condensers, enabling said apparatus to decompose orseparate the electricity of the conductor and its connections and toattract the same to the condenser-plates attached to its ends bysimultaneous induction from both poles of said apparatus, the wholearranged and operating to lessen or prevent the tendency of the saidelectricity to escape from said conductor to earth.

26. In a system such as herein described, the combination of a lineterminating in condensers and consisting of two or more sectionsconnected by condensers, and electrical receivers in one or more of saidsections and between the condensers, actuated by the currents orimpulses induced by said condensers.

27. In a system such as described, the combination of an electricgenerator charging condensers connected to its poles, a line connectedto said condensers and divided into sections, and condensers inductivelyuniting said sections intoa sectional line and caused by the terminalcondensers to reproduce the changes occurring therein, the wholearranged and op erating to substitute, in place of the sending of acurrent over the whole distance or length of the line,-the production ofcorresponding but separate and independent currents in and over theseveral sections by the simultaneous inductions of thesection-condensers, whereby the electrical resistance of said line ispracti cally reduced to a minimum.

28. In a system such as described, the combi nation of ap paratusfurnishing suitably-varying currents, electro-motive force or potential,a sectional main line conveying varying currents therefrom, a localcircuit distinct from the circuit containing the generator, aninduction-coil having primary coil or coils acted upon by the currentsof said sectional line and secondary coil or coils in the local circuit,and one or more electrical receiversin the local circuit.

29. In a system such as described, the combination of a sectional mainline, a conductor therein conveying line-currents, a local cir-' cuitdistinct from the generator-circuit, and an induction-coil havingprimary coil or coils acted upon by the line-currents, and secondarycoil or coils in the local circuit.

30. In an organized system for the production and transmission ofelectrical energy by repeated inductions, the combination of a generatorexpending a certain amount of energy in charging condensers connected toits poles, two or more sections of conductors arranged in series,condensers inductively uniting said sections into a line whose ends areconnected to the terminal condensers and having capacities suitable fordischarging over the sections connected to them currents having thestated amount of electrical energy, and devices properly reversing orvarying the charges of said terminal condensers, the whole arranged andoperating to reproduce the original amount of energy in each of thesections by the repeated inductions and electrical attractions andrepulsions at the several condensers.

31. The combination of one or more seetional lines consisting ofsections inductively connected through condensers, self-regulatingapparatus for automatically supplying suitably-varying currents asneeded on said line orlines, and connected to said line or lines throughsuitable polar condensers, and electrical apparatus in said line orlines utilizing said currents.

32. The combination of a sectional line consisting of sectionsinductively connected through condensers, self-regulatingapparatus forautomatically supplying suitably-varying currents as needed on said lineand properly connected thereto, and suitable resistances in thesections, having the maximum section resistance properly adjusted todetermine the volume of current flowing over the line.

CHARLES EDGAR FRITTS.

Witnesses:

D. L. HoLBRooK, H. B. COLT.

IIS

